Thoughts about some future-proof TYA concepts

Times were changing already, but it is remarkable that times changed drastically when they came to a standstill due to the pandemic. We have been introduced to concepts we had never heard of before in our daily and our professional life. But what about the artistic creations? Sure there were streams and live streams, sure the pandemic and it’s effects is and will be the theme of some shows, but these effects seem temporarily and superficial. With my thoughts/uncertainties and reflections I would like to go a step further. How can we achieve more inclusion, participation and real digital art forms in TYA? Can we get beyond (live)streams into real digital art? Can we reach out to those new audiences with new formats and forms? And how can inclusion and participation play an essential role in that?

I graduated in languages and theater sciences and have worked as a dramaturg for some time. In those days I was also associated to an art-educational organisation that worked with and for youngsters. After a long travel in the mid 90-ies, I became - a bit out of the blue - a presenter ; first in the team of a European Cultural Capital, later in a cross-border regional festival and finally in the cultural centre of Hasselt.  Until 2019 I have kept working as a free-lance dramaturg for TYA dance shows. Next to the general mangement of the cultural centre of Hasselt, I am artistic director of Krokusfestival (international TYA festival) and HET LAB (TYA workspace).

Gerhard Verfaillie

Krokus festival  - https://www.krokusfestival.be/

Krokusfestival is an international TYA arts festival that has some special focuses: emerging artists, new creations, contemporary dance and new technologies in TYA. The festival is held annually in February and welcomes around 200 professionals from around the world. Krokusfestival has developed a 5-year project called THINK LOCAL CREATE GLOBAL in which the festival has done extensive research on mutual artistic exchanges beyond aesthetic quality-issues between European and non-European companies and artists. HET LAB is a creative workspace with two levels: one is ‘creative input and research’, the second is ‘workspace’. In the first we organise masterclasses, exchange labos, thematic encounters for artists and invite artists to join us when we visit festivals. In the second we provide a workspace and support (e.g. outside eyes and coaching) to artists and companies in  

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